Spike-blank bar



(N0 Model.) J. T.

$PIKE BLANK BAR. No. 403,049. Patented May 7, 1889.v

W/T/l/ESSES: 0% my UNITED STATES JOHN T. JONES, OF IRON MOUNTAIN,MICHIGAN.

SPIKE-BLANK BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,049, dated May *7,

Application filed October 15, 1888. Serial No. 288,126. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN T. JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Iron Mountain, in the county of Menominee and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpike-Blanks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention has relation to spike-blanks, and has for its object theprovision of a blank of novel form from which spikes may be cut thatwill be of greater strength relatively to their weight than spikes cutfrom blanks of the ordinary form; and my invention consists in providingor forming a spike-blank with a ridge, rise, or increase of thicknessparallel to and in the vicinity of that edge of the blank which, whenthe blank is cut into spikes, forms the heads of the same, so that inthe completed spike there will be an increase of thickness of the metalat the back of the point of juncture of the head of the spike with thebody of the same.

In Letters Patent of the United States granted to me July 17, 1888, No.386,404, I have shown, described, and claimed a blank for railway-spikeshaving parallel sides-beveled off at one edge, and having a ridge formedon one side of the opposite edge of the blank, which ridge forms the lipof the spike when the latter has been cut from the blank; and in LettersPatent of the same date, No. 386,406, I have described and claimed animproved method of manufacturing the blanks above described from steelrails.

In spikes made from the blanks and according to the method which formsthe subject-matters of the above-mentioned Letters Patent, I have foundthat the point of least strength is on a line projected diagonally fromthe point of j uncture of the under side of the lip of the spike to theback of the same, and that under great strain there is some liability tofracture at this point, and in order to strengthen the spike at thispoint I propose, as aforesaid, to now form the blank with a ridgeopposite to the ridge which in the completed spike forms the lip of thesame, so that spikes made from the blanks which form the subject-matterof my present invention will each have a swell at a point back of thepoint of juncture of the lip with the body of the spike.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a spikeblank constructed according to my invention, and Fig. 2 aperspective view of a spike cut from the same.

A designates the body of the blank, which has flat sides a b, beveledoff at d d, so as to form a sharp edge, e, which constitutes the pointsof the spikes cut from the blank. Upon the side a of the blank and alongthe edge of the same is formed a ridge, E, beveled on both sides, as ate e, such ridge forming the lip of the completed spike. On the side I)of the blank and behind or opposite to the ridge E, I form a lower andwider ridge, F, the sides of which slope gradually down to, and by agentle curvature merge smoothly into, the fiat side I) of the blank.

The blank formed as above described is divided upon parallel lines 9 g,each section forming a complete spike, and the spikes so formed areshown in the perspective view, Fig. 2, where, it will be observed, theridge E forms the lip of'the spike and the ridge Fa swell at the back ofthe same.

In Fig. 2 I have indicated by a dotted line, it h, the point where theseverest strain falls, and in the spike made from my improved blank itwill be observed that this line passes from the juncture of the lip Fwith the body A,through or nearly through the middle of swell F. Y

The method of forming the blanks to proper size and shape forms no partof my present invention and need not therefore be particularlydescribed, suffice to say the ridge F is formed during the rollingprocess simultaneously with the formation of the rib E, and by means ofsuitably-grooved rolls. The ridge F greatly increases the strength ofthe spike at the needed point, and by forming the blank with this ridgeI am enabled to produce spikes of greater strength proportionately totheir weight than where the blanks are made, as heretofore, devoid ofthe ridge F.

I do not confine my invention to the precise form of ridge shown in thedrawings, as the form and size of the same may be varied to meet therequirements of weigl'lt, strength, dict hat I claim ispast a pointopposite the point of juncture of: the first ridge with the bodyof theblank, the first ridge being adapted to form the head upon spikes cutfrom said blank and the second ridge a swell at the back of said lipextending below the angle formed at the juncture of the lip and the bodyof the spike, substantially as described.

I11 testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my handthis 10th day of October, 1888.

1. A blank bar for spikes, having a re-enforcing ridge at the back ofthe portion which forms the lip of the spike when the blank is severedinto sections, such ridge extending laterally past a point opposite thepoint of spike,

juncture of the lip with the body of the substantially as described.

2. A spike-blank having a ridge formed on i one side at the edge of theblank and a secl J OITN T. JONES. \Vitnesses:

H. C. EVERT, LoUIs Monsun.

0nd ridge upon the opposite side and at the same edge of the blankextending laterally

